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Tips for Coping with Spring Allergies

Many people are happy to see the end of this long, cold winter, but if you have pollen allergies - also called hay fever - you might not greet spring with open arms.

The good news? There are a number of things you can do to reduce or prevent symptoms:

Avoid triggers. It's important to know what you're allergic to so you can avoid those triggers. An allergist can identify the things that cause allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.

Monitor pollen and mold counts. Stay inside when they're high.

After working or playing outdoors, take a shower, wash your hair and change your clothes.

Keep windows and doors shut at home and in your car during allergy season.

Use air conditioning, which cleans the air.

Try to avoid mowing the lawn or raking leaves. If you have to do these chores, it might be a good idea to wear a mask.

Take allergy medications as prescribed and start using them before symptoms begin. Be careful when using over-the-counter allergy medications because they can cause sleep and thinking problems.

Allergy vaccinations. Allergy vaccinations slowly introduce your body to allergens so it learns to tolerate them rather than triggering an allergic reaction. These vaccinations can reduce symptoms of many allergies, prevent the development of new allergies and, in children, stop allergies from progressing to asthma.

Moving to another area of the country isn't likely to help. Many types of pollen and molds are found across the nation, and you might encounter new allergy triggers if you move to a different region.